The Beatles: Style Icons

Why They're Style Icons

Before ‘N Sync, the Backstreet Boys and that train wreck known as 98 Degrees, there was a music phenomenon bigger than all of their cloying, poppish sounds combined: The Beatles. They were the original boy band. For most of these international superstar sensations, fashion is an integral part of achieving success. The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, realized this early on and cleaned up shop by plucking the Fab Four out of a dated world of '50’s leather jackets and greasy hair. When The Beatles took the world stage in the 1960s, they had a never-before-seen juxtaposition of smart suits and shaggy hair. The popular mop-top was just as much of a cultural revolution as the new pop-rock sound of the band itself. The delectable 'do even reached illegal status in communist Brezhnev Russia for its rebellious statement of disheveled dapperness.

From the start, The Beatles recognized the importance of constantly reinventing their look along with their music. Dark suits soon gave way to lighter, Edwardian style collarless ones. Although hideous and a half-step away from looking like a commander’s costume on the set of Star Trek, the group maintained their minimalist, cohesive look that became synonymous with the mod youth of mid-'60s Britain. By the latter part of the decade, the group had begun to take more risks with turtlenecks, brighter colors and paisley patterns reflecting the psychedelic mood of the times. This soon evolved into more casual clothing with T-shirts and jeans as each member of the group developed his own individual style. Paul remained rather clean-cut, Ringo gained an edge and George went for the earthy, Eastern styles of the late hippie movement. John continued to change his style like the wind, from his famous round eyeglasses to fisherman hats in denim, corduroy and black leather. Their early days may have been as a harmonious quartet, but each of the Beatles' disparate styles marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new age in both music and fashion.

Dress The Beatles Way

Beatles style is a journey that runs the gamut from elegant to acid trip. It’s a common evolution for popstars, which makes it rather easy to figure out which aesthetic you want to incorporate into our own look. Would you rather be the young attractive Elvis or the bloated, drugged-up Vegas version? The story with the Beatles, though not as extreme, bares the same saddening similarity. Conveniently, the early days of the Beatles in their slim-cut suits and Chelsea boots is as retro as it is relevant. The boots with their ankle-to-toe center stitch seam and higher heel were dubbed Beatle boots after John and Paul fell in love with them while shopping for shoes in London. Four bespoke pairs were consequently commissioned for the band and the rest is history. Today, Chelsea boots remain a staple for any man’s shoe collection. While you’ve undoubtedly been fed enough helpings of advice on trimmer suits and equally sleek accompaniments to choke a horse, The Beatles are just one more reason to give your wardrobe a dose of Dexatrim.